GLENDA BYARS: Championship memories

Wednesday

Dec 12, 2012 at 11:17 AMDec 12, 2012 at 11:19 AM

Outside, the wind whips up a flurry of dry leaves and rolls overlooked pecans down the driveway. The sky threatens with gray clouds, and as darkness creeps over the hills and into the river, a dull winter day draws to an end.

By Glenda ByarsTimes Correspondent

Outside, the wind whips up a flurry of dry leaves and rolls overlooked pecans down the driveway. The sky threatens with gray clouds, and as darkness creeps over the hills and into the river, a dull winter day draws to an end. A congenial fire pops occasionally under the stockings hung from the mantle. Christmas music gentles the impending gloom; the Christmas tree winks in the window; holly and mistletoe add shine.Cinnamon potpourri simmers on the stove. Grandson Ryan hangs out with us on Thursdays; as I wait, memories of the past week dance across my mind.Andrew “Bubba” Barnes had begun a trek on Facebook: 26 years ago tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 28), the Gadsden High Tigers were winning the 1986 5A State Championship (I’ve still got my ring).It produced a deluge of memories from his classmates. David Partridge marveled that it had been so long, as did Aimee Hagedorn. Phillip Stephens sang in with “David Taylor threw deep late in the fourth quarter.” Wendy Webb, Jean Hawkins, Alice Avery, Jana Massey, Jerome Horton, Jason Crow, Andre deRamus, David Owen, David Elrod, Andrew Roberts, Adria Connell and Kim Avery joined in with memories of that precious time. Jason Crow remembered an opponent “jawing” at Alex Freeman, trying to start a fight. Without getting mad, Alex just calmly turned and pointed to Gadsden High’s winning scoreboard.Parents were involved in the goings on; Bob Pine and Dr. Wesley were part of a rockin’ pep band at one of the pep rallies and I helped lead the cheers dressed as ... Madonna! What a way to spend a winter evening — reminiscing about bringing home the state championship.

POTPOURRII learned long ago not to depend on electronics for a major part of a lesson or show. Story Time kids were going to watch the new Pete the Cat story, “Pete the Cat Saves Christmas,” online. The children were eager to see the new story on my iPad. All was still; even Maddie Clare Lumpkin, who had been helping lead the songs.I held the iPad high, pushed the button and ... nothing. I pushed the other button — still nothing happened. The 2- and 3-year-olds were ready to watch the story. I stood there pitifully holding the silent iPad.“Miss Glenda! Do THIS one!” 3-year-old Aiden Gilmore touched the middle button and Pete the Cat sprang to the screen. Perhaps I should stick to reading stories.

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